A Tour of Camotes Islands

Upon reading some good reviews of Camotes Islands and knowing that there is a dive operator in the area, I promised myself to visit the place someday. But I didn’t know that this someday would be so soon, thanks to my dive buddy Ate Claudia who were so willing and immediately agreed to join me in another pursuit for roads less traveled and dive spots less dived and to my good friend Racquel Bontia who just recently went there, for the tips 🙂

White beach of Tulang Island, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu

Camotes is a group of islands composed of four towns of Cebu (Poro, Tudela, Pilar and San Francisco), geographically located east of the province’ mainland and two hours away by boat from Danao, north of Cebu City. Cebu Pacific took me to there via their early flight to the Queen City of the South. I arrived Cebu City before eight in the morning, where I met Ate Claudia straight from Cagayan de Oro City. Per advised of Racquel, we took a taxi to Gaisano Mandaue (P75.00), and rode a multicab to Danao City (P25.00) for almost an hour.

It was half past the hour of nine, the multicab dropped us at the port of Danao, right in front of the century old church and we purchased our ticket to the 11AM RJR boat to Consuelo, Camotes (P180.00). With some ample time to spare, we decided to go to Gaisano Danao for breakfast.

RJR boat from Danao to Consuelo

The boat left fifteen minutes after 11AM. Along with some locals, foreigners mostly composed of Koreans and some Caucasians, and the hogs and chickens aboard the ferry, the boat sailed for two hours to the calm waters of Camotes Sea.

We reached the port of Consuelo past 1PM and we were welcomed by Kuya Elmer, a local guide referred by Racquel. We paid P50.00 each for the transfer from the port to Bellavista Resort where we checked-in for a fan room good for two at P850.00 per room per day. Bellavista Resort or formerly Beach View Resort is located along Santiago Bay in Barangay Santiago, San Francisco, where most tourists stay.

Lake Danao Park

By 2PM, white it was drizzling, our habal-habal or motorcycle tour with Kuya Elmer started. First stop was Lake Danao Park, a big lake ideal for family picnic. There is not much to see or do here unless you will go fishing or boating. If you go fishing, you have to pay for whatever you catch; meanwhile boating is at P500.00 per hour for a boat that can fit 20 persons. Entrance fee to Lake Danao Park is P10.00 for adults and P5.00 for kids.

Underground natural pool of Timabu Cave

We skipped the activities in Lake Danao Park and proceeded to Timabu Cave, an interesting underground cave with freshwater spring forming a natural pool that offers a different swimming experience. The pool is incredibly clear and aqua blue. According to locals, for unexplainable reason, the water subsides during high tide and goes high again at low tide. The trail to the pool is made up of paved and concrete stairs and lighted electronically by lamps. A grotto of Mama Mary is also carved inside the cave. It is a beautiful cave,  although I think it would be more interesting if it was left on its natural form.

Baywalk, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu

Next stop was the baywalk in San Francisco, the first and only baywalk in the island, an ideal place for leisurely walk and town events. We took some time to rest and eat our snacks there before crossing the bridge that links Pacijan Island to the neighboring Poro Island. We passed by a paved road in the middle of the mangrove forest for our next destination – the Buho Rock, a big rock along the beach that was developed to be a park, with cottages and even a swimming pool, though not being used.

Buho Rock in Poro, Camotes, Cebu

It was almost 5PM, Kuya Elmer advised us to skip Bukilat Cave in the farther Barangay of Tudela in Poro. So we went back to Santiago and arrived at the resort half past the hour of five, and I was amazed with how the beach of Santiago Bay looked like on low tide. A wide stretch of cream sand was revealed as the water receded from the shore. What a sight!

Santiago Bay, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu

It was a tiring day mostly spent on almost all mode of transport – plane ride from Manila, taxi ride to Mandaue, jeep/multicab to Danao, padyak to Gaisano, ferry to Consuelo, multicab to Santiago and ended up on a habal-habal or motor tour in the laid back town of Camotes. It was all worth it. We got a glimpse of the inland treasures of this remote group of islands of Cebu.

Tips:

  • Accommodation in Camotes: Bellavista Resort (formerly Beach View Resort), Santiago Bay Garden and Resort, Masamayor Beach Resort and Payag Beach Resort in Santiago; Mangongodlong Rock Resort in Mangongodlong; Harbor View in downtown San Francisco.
  • Going to Consuelo, Camotes from Danao: Jomalia Ferry 830AM, RJR Pumpboat (11AM) from Danao
  • Going out of Consuelo, Camotes to Danao: Jomalia Ferry 5AM, RJR Pumpoboat (2PM) to Danao
  • Where else to go: White Sand Beaches are in Pacijan Island, Mangongodlong Rock, Bukilat Cave in Tudela, St. Josep Parish, Kalbaryo, Alta Vista, Guadalupe Cave, Busay Waterfalls
  • When to go: Summer and dry season
  • No electricity everyday from 6PM-7PM
  • Mobile signal is weak in some areas of Pacijan Island, especially in Santiago and southern barangays of San Francisco
  • No ATM or bank in the island
  • Non-aircon room rate good for two is as low as P850.00/room/night in Bellavista, Aircon room rate for two is at P1200.00/room/night
  • Consuelo Port to hotel transfer is P50.00 one way
  • Half day motorcycle tour rate is P500.00 for the following spot: Lake Danao Park, Timabu Cave, Baywalk, Buho Rock and Bukilat Cave
  • Kuya Elmer’s cellphone number: +639067100831

Comments

  1. emz

    by 500php good for 2 pax, you can already go to 8 destinations of their tourist attractions.just contact this number wilbes- 09475465768 0r 09264808365.price is still negotiable.He’s a good driver and good tour guide as well.

  2. lani

    This is very helpful. Going to Cebu for the first time with my family on Dec. We’re planning to go to Camotes Island. Do you have any contacts for city tour? Yung sa Camotes Is. tour, direkta na namin kokontakin si kuya Elmer? Thank you.

  3. lani

    This is very helpful. Going to Cebu for the first time with my husband and our two boys this December and we decided to go to Camotes Island. Any help or contact for city tour package for our first day? And for the Camotes Is. pwede na ba namin direktang kontakin si Kuya Elmer? 🙂 Thanks in advance!

  4. SHA

    hi , mejo mahal po kc sa santiago bay , meron po kaung ma sugest na accomodation na mejo mas mura ? at ok ang food po sana ty

    1. Lakwatsero

      Hi Sha, you may try Bella Vista Mare Camotes located beside Santiago Bay. They do not have their own restaurant bit you can dine at Santiago Bay and nearby resaurants 🙂

  5. Hi,

    Thanks for the detailed info. I stumbled across blog while researching Camotes (which will be our destination after we visit Malapascua).

    Keep blogging – and hope you visit more such interesting places.

    My Philippines travel blog – http://expattraveller.blogspot.com

    (20 places seen…. another 7087 to go!)

  6. justine rasga

    pwde mo rent ug habal- habal sa camotes?

  7. Alfred Lim

    hi i am alfred. i have aircon vans available. the rate is the same with non aircon vehicle. for more info: call or text : 0926-5296337 ; 0910-8795577 ; 0922-2291336. thanks

    1. nanette

      hi,
      is your van still available, my bf and i is planning to go on a trip on October, is your numbers here still OK. Can I call you for reservations? and by the way can you also be our travel guide, we’ll just talk about the charges.

  8. Alfred Lim

    hi this is alfred; i have aircon vans and multicabs. our aircon van is the same rate with any non-aircon vehicle. for more info: contact us: 0926-529-6337 ; 0910-879-5577 ; 0922-2291336. thank you very much…

  9. CINDY

    hello there,

    when we were in camotes, tata rabe assisted our tour there, you can contact her at [email protected] or you may text her at 09173061568.

    we really had a great time in camotes island..

    tata, salamat ha? sa uulitin. Sa Samal naman tayo !

  10. rome

    one more thing po sa mga nag-plan na punta ng camotes, sa parteng santiago wala pong signal ang cellphone dun. pero ok lang kasi walang abala kung gusto nyo talaga mag-unwind.

    si kuya jun-jun yung driver at tour guide sa camotes ang bait at tahimik, di ko lang nakuha number nya kasi sabi nya nga walang signal dun sa santiago (if I’m not mistaken pati dun sa mangodlong na parte wala rin cellphone signal).

    half-day trip around camotes islang costs P700 dalawa na kami nyan.
    1. Bukilat Cave
    2. Buho Rock Resort
    3. Baywalk
    4. Timubo Cave (the best)
    5. Lake Danao Park

  11. rome

    kakagaling lang namin sa camotes islang nunng june 2012 at sa bellavista kami nag stay ang room rates nila P950 yung fan room.

    salamat angel sa blog mo malaki ang naitulong nito sa camotes trip namin. totoo nga maganda ang camotes island pati yung kalsada nila kaya di mahirap magbyahe kahit habal-habal ka nakasakay 🙂

    pinaka gusto ko yung timubo cave astig talaga sya…

    next trip namin sa mambukal, negros….

  12. Hi! We currently offer accommodations at our private beach house in nonoc, san francisco camotes… please visit http://www.tourcamotes.com website for more information!

    Have a nice day!

  13. marivic cal

    just wanna ask…how’s your vacation in camotes island? were you able to get a good trip package there? can you refer it to me as we (3 of us) are going to the island this april…thanks!…. pls email me at [email protected]

  14. Kim

    Can u giv me the contact number of bellavista resort?

    1. Hi, it’s 09053508883 🙂

  15. Camotes Island

    For regular updates on Camotes Island go to:

    http://www.twitter.com/camotesisland

  16. jenny

    hi
    good day can i ask how much per room good for two in buho beach resort? and can u gv me a contact number so that we can txt for reservation room in advance before we travel
    pls reply on my e mail ad [email protected]
    tnx
    jenny

  17. Thanks for the info, I have a question, do you know or do you have any referral to which we could have a TRIP PACKAGE? My friends and I are planning to go there by April. I have seen some good packages, but it would be a good help hearing it out from you too. Thanks, Kudos!

  18. tanya

    Hi,
    do you have a contact number or email for bellavista resort? Can you cook there? Thanks!

    -Tanya

    1. nalla

      try santiago bay resort, adjacent to the resort is a vast shoreline and beachfront resto’s are available with affordable prices, you can also bring seafoods for them to cook on a minimal fee. fyi, fishermen dock near the place so it will be cheaper if you buy directly from them.. 🙂

  19. i’ll definitely put this in my list to go to when i visit cebu next year. i especially love the pictures. 🙂

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